‘Til He Appears

Luke 1:39-56-A Leap of Joy

Trish Haq

December 10, 2023

With a friend, your family or in your small group, discuss the following questions:

1. Read through Luke 1:39-45 together. What stands out to you from this passage? What do you notice? What do you find encouraging? Does anything confuse or challenge you?

  2.    There are several repeated words in this particular text that help us to recognize the important themes and ideas in the passage.                   Look through the scripture reading and notice what words are repeated. In what ways might they each be important?

  3.   In this passage, Elizabeth’s baby, John, leaps for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice. Why does this happen? What does John’s leap of joy           signify?

  4.   Elizabeth, filled with God’s Spirit, declares that Mary is Blessed. What do you think it means to be blessed? In what way is Mary blessed?

  5.  Elizabeth asks this question: “But why am I so favoured that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43). What does                         Elizabeth’s question reveal?

  6.  Read Luke 6:20-26. What stands out to you in this passage? In what ways does Jesus’ teaching here challenge your ideas about what           it means to be blessed? In what ways does it align? What connections can you find between this passage, and the text we are looking         at today?

  7.  Now read Luke 1:46-56, Mary’s song of praise. What stands out to you here? What ideas about God does Mary express? What does she           reveal here about her understanding of the Kingdom that Jesus is coming to usher in?

 8.  Can you see evidence, both in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, and in Mary’s song, of the great reversal that God is planning to accomplish                through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection? Why do you think there is so much joy surrounding God’s plans that have begun to unfold        through the story of Mary and Elizabeth?

 9.  In what ways can you take greater joy in God’s redemptive plan for the world that the Christmas story invites us to reflect on? Like Mary,        can you join the ‘leap of joy’ and take greater delight in the transforming power of the kingdom ethics that Jesus came to reveal to us?

 10.  In what ways might God be calling you to participate in His great reversal? In what ways do you need to humble yourself before God?           In what ways do you need the encouragement of God’s blessing in your life today?

Pray for each other out of the points discussed. Pray for God to grow and expand your sense of wonder and awe at God’ greatness. Pray that He would help you to find joy and delight in the hope of His Kingdom. Pray for God to reveal areas in your life where you need to be brought low, so that you can more fully embrace His Kingship over your life. Pray for the Lord’s encouragement and hope in understanding how God’s blessing is with you in the midst of any suffering or difficulties you are facing in your life.